Samurai Blue Sent Home

Earlier this week saw Japan's World Cup journey come to a climactic end in the knockout round against Belgium. After leading 2-0, Belgium brought in is subs and came back from behind in one of the most thrilling tension-filled nail-biting matches of this 2018 World Cup. Not even a late corner kick by the great Keisuke Honda could turn it around proving once a comfortable lead lost, take nothing for granted. In the end, Belgium defeated 3-2. Shortly after the game's conclusion, Keisuke Honda and Makoto Hasebe both announced their retirement from international football. And in true Japanese fashion, the players walked off the pitch knowing they gave it their all. Japanese fans cleaned their sections of the stadium and the team itself left the lockerroom spotless leaving a simple note written in Russian saying Thank you. Talk about class act! Japan has nothing to be ashamed of. They lasted longer in this cup than defending champion Germany and got further than before. There are lessons to be learned in Russia and Japan will continue to evolve as a football nation as it looks forward to the upcoming Asian Cup in 2019. We look forward to seeing the emerging stars and thrilling matches ahead for this is not the last we will hear of the Samurai Blue.